The Role of Birch Tar in Changing the Physicochemical and Biocidal Properties of Polylactide-Based Films

The objective of this study was to produce bactericidal polymer films containing birch tar (BT). The produced polymer films contain PLA, plasticiser PEG (5% wt.) and birch tar (1, 5 and 10% wt.). Compared to plasticised PLA, films with BT were characterised by reduced elongation at break and reduced water vapour permeability, which was the lowest in the case of film with 10% wt. BT content. Changes in the morphology of the produced materials were observed by performing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis; the addition of BT caused the surface of the film to be non-uniform and to contain recesses. FTIR analysis of plasticised PLA/BT films showed that the addition of birch tar did not change the crystallinity of the obtained materials. According to ISO 22196: 2011, the PLA film with 10% wt. BT content showed the highest antibacterial effect against the plant pathogens A. tumefaciens, X. campestris, P. brassicacearum, P. corrugata, P. syringae. It was found that the introduction of birch tar to plasticised PLA leads to a material with biocidal effect and favourable physicochemical and structural properties, which classifies this material for agricultural and horticultural applications.

Effect of Electrodeposition Mechanism and α-Si3N4/ZrBr2 Doped Composite Particle on the Physicochemical and Structural Properties of Processed NiPZn Coatings on Mild Steel for Advance Application

Ni-P-Zn nanocomposite coatings were plated on mild steel surface from sulphamate rich bath containing (α-Si3N4 and α-ZrBr2) nanoparticle produced via electrodeposition process. The compositions of the particulate were varied from 0 to 10 wt% with time variation between 10 to 25 min after ascertaining other optimum parameters. The crystal evolution and morphological quantification were examined using scanning electron microscope supported with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The corrosion degradation in an acidic and alkaline environment was considered and compared to establish the suitability and extents of the corrosion vulnerability of deposited coatings. The surface flake crystal identified on the microstructural properties show the presence of compositional constituent and disperse particle of α-Si3N4 and α-ZrBr2. Finally, corrosion properties show a resilient crystal surface stability in the presence of chloride and sulphate ion with a remarkable surface film still retained at the bulk interface. This study has confirmed that α-Si3N4 and α-ZrBr2 composite coating can be used for structural development and corrosion improvement in the presence of active ions. Keywords: Nanomaterials, Structure, Corrosion, Prevention, Coatings

Selected Physico-Chemical Properties of Composite Scaffolds of Sintered Submicrocrystalline Corundum and Bioglass

Presented paper contains description and interpretation of the results of selected physicochemical and structural properties of two types of composite sinters. They were constituted of a mixture of sintered microcrystalline corundum and bioglass CaO-P2O5-SiO2-Na2O system intended for scaffolds to cell culture of human chondrocytes. The composites contained a mixture of both above-mentioned components in the volumetric proportion of 50:50 (W5) and 30:70 (W7). They were obtained using powder metallurgy by free sintering in air atmosphere. Phase analysis of composites and verification of theoretical identification using X-ray diffraction were performed. The same phases were found in both cases (Al2O3 SiO2 CaAl2Si2O8, Ca3 (PO4)2, Ca2Al4O7 and NaAlSiO4. Microscopic tests of composite surfaces were performed and some differences were found. W5 sample was not completely covered with bioglass, whilst W7 sample was completely covered with bioglass with few fine pores. Tests of surface topography confirmed the presence of large and small pores. Composite surfaces immersed for 30 days in artificial blood plasma were tested and then electron microscopy analysis was performed. It was found that no significant changes occurred on the surface of the W5 composite, probably partial corrosion of the glass happened. Spherical forms characteristic of HA-hydroxyapatites were observed on the surface of sample W7. Human chondrocyte cells were seeded on both types of sinters and proliferation assay was performed on them with positive results.

Exact Values of Zagreb Indices for Generalized T-Sum Networks with Lexicographic Product

The use of numerical numbers to represent molecular networks plays a crucial role in the study of physicochemical and structural properties of the chemical compounds. For some integer k and a network G , the networks S k G and R k G are its derived networks called as generalized subdivided and generalized semitotal point networks, where S k and R k are generalized subdivision and generalized semitotal point operations, respectively. Moreover, for two connected networks, G 1 and G 2 , G 1 G 2 S k and G 1 G 2 R k are T -sum networks which are obtained by the lexicographic product of T G 1 and G 2 , respectively, where T ε S k , R k . In this paper, for the integral value k ≥ 1 , we find exact values of the first and second Zagreb indices for generalized T -sum networks. Furthermore, the obtained findings are general extensions of some known results for only k = 1 . At the end, a comparison among the different generalized T -sum networks with respect to first and second Zagreb indices is also included.

GhLUX1 and GhELF3 Are Two Components of the Circadian Clock That Regulate Flowering Time of Gossypium hirsutum

Photoperiod is an important external factor that regulates flowering time, the core mechanism of which lies in the circadian clock-controlled expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and its upstream regulators. However, the roles of the circadian clock in regulating cotton flowering time are largely unknown. In this study, we cloned two circadian clock genes in cotton, GhLUX1 and GhELF3. The physicochemical and structural properties of their putative proteins could satisfy the prerequisites for the interaction between them, which was proved by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and Bimolecular Fluorescent Complimentary (BiFC) assays. Phylogenetic analysis of LUXs and ELF3s indicated that the origin of LUXs was earlier than that of ELF3s, but ELF3s were more divergent and might perform more diverse functions. GhLUX1, GhELF3, GhCOL1, and GhFT exhibited rhythmic expression and were differentially expressed in the early flowering and late-flowering cotton varieties under different photoperiod conditions. Both overexpression of GhLUX1 and overexpression of GhELF3 in Arabidopsis delayed flowering probably by changing the oscillation phases and amplitudes of the key genes in the photoperiodic flowering pathway. Both silencing of GhLUX1 and silencing of GhELF3 in cotton increased the expression of GhCOL1 and GhFT and resulted in early flowering. In summary, the circadian clock genes were involved in regulating cotton flowering time and could be the candidate targets for breeding early maturing cotton varieties.

Characterization and Caco-2 Cell Transport Assay of Chito-Oligosaccharides Nano-Liposomes Based on Layer-by-Layer Coated

Chito-oligosaccharides (COSs) were encapsulated by the film-ultrasonic method into three nano-liposomes, which were uncoated liposomes (COSs-Lip), chitosan-coated liposomes (CH-COSs-Lip), and sodium alginate (SA)/chitosan (CH)-coated liposomes (SA/CH-COSs-Lip). The physicochemical and structural properties, as well as the stability and digestive characteristics, of all three nano-liposomes were assessed in the current study. Thereafter, the characteristics of intestinal absorption and transport of nano-liposomes were investigated by the Caco-2 cell monolayer. All nano-liposomes showed a smaller-sized distribution with a higher encapsulation efficiency. The ζ-potential, Z-average diameter (Dz), and polydispersity index (PDI) demonstrated that the stability of the SA/CH-COSs-Lip had much better stability than COSs-Lip and CH-COSs-Lip. In addition, the transport of the nano-liposomes via the Caco-2 cell monolayer indicated a higher transmembrane transport capacity. In summary, the chitosan and sodium alginate could serve as potential delivery systems for COSs to fortify functional foods and medicines.